Water-degradable film of monomer grafted to polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide)

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a water degradable modified polyolefin-modified poly(ethylene oxide-containing film having greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). The polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) polymers are modified by having grafted thereto from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a monomer selected from 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate. The modified polyolefin-modified poly(etheylene oxide)-containing film of the invention, when immersed in water for about 30 seconds, loses at least 10% in two or more of the tensile properties: percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus when compared to the dry or pre-immersion values. Also provided are flushable personal care articles such as infant diapers, feminine hygiene napkins, and adult incontinence garments having a backing or barrier layer comprising a water degradable modified polyolefin-modified poly(ethylene oxide)-containing film of the invention.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/813,571 filed Mar. 6, 1997, abandoned, claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/034,616 filed Dec. 31, 1996, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a water-degradable polyolefin-containing film. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water-degradable polyolefin-containing film having greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal care products, such as infant diapers, sanitary napkins, adult incontinence garments, and the like are generally constructed from a number of different components and materials. Such articles typically have some portion, usually the backing layer, liner, barrier, or baffle constructed of a liquid repellent film material. This repellent material is appropriately constructed to minimize or prevent the exudation of the absorbed liquid from the article and to obtain greater utilization of the absorbent capacity of the product. The liquid repellent film commonly used includes plastic materials such as polyethylene films and the like.

Although such products are relatively inexpensive, sanitary and easy to use, disposal of a soiled product is not without its problems. With greater interest being placed in protecting the environment, there is a need to develop materials that are more compatible with the existing and developing waste disposal technologies while still delivering performance consumers have come to expect. An ideal disposal alternative would be to use municipal sewage treatment and private residential septic systems. Products suited for disposal in sewage systems can be flushed down a convenient toilet and are termed "flushable."

While flushing such articles would be convenient, the liquid repellent material which normally does not disintegrate in water tends to plug toilets and sewer pipes. It therefore becomes necessary, although undesirable, to separate the barrier film material from the absorbent article prior to flushing.

In addition to the article itself, typically the packaging in which the disposable article is distributed is also made from a water resistant material. Water resistivity is necessary to prevent the degradation of the packaging from environmental conditions and to protect the disposable articles therein. Although this packaging may be safely stored with other refuse for commercial disposal, and especially in the case of individual packaging of the products, it is often more convenient to dispose of the packaging in the toilet with the discarded disposable article. However, in the cases where such packaging is composed of a water resistant material, plugging of the drains to the toilet typically results.

Desirably, a commercial, water degradable or flushable product should be relatively responsive to water and be transportable in a sewer system. Commercially available water-soluble polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), acrylamide polymers, acrylic acid-based polymers, and cellulose derivatives, possess the desired characteristics for flushability, such as water solubility and/or water dispersibility. However, due to their in-use degradability and storage degradation, these materials function poorly as components in personal care products. Other disadvantages are that these polymers are difficult to process and are substantially more expensive than polyolefins.

The requirements for a functional and flushable product provide a substantial challenge in finding suitable materials with the desired properties. In an attempt to overcome the flushability problem of a water resistant film the prior art has modified the water resistant polymer. One of the more useful ways of modifying polymers involves blending them with other polymers of different structures and properties.

Polymer blends of polyolefins and poly(ethylene oxide) have been shown to be water modifiable at expectedly low weight percent polyolefin levels. Such blends would be anticipated to be flushable when exposed to water in a toilet but do not possess the dry mechanical properties required for functionality in use. Moreover, the high content of poly(ethylene oxide) makes such materials prohibitively expensive for use in a disposable personal hygiene article such as a sanitary napkin, diaper and the like. Polymer blends of polyolefins and poly(ethylene oxide) containing greater than about 45 weight percent of polyolefin are generally water resistant and are not water modifiable. In view of the problems of the prior art, it remains highly desirable to provide a water modifiable film having a substantial portion of thereof composed of a polyolefin. More desirably, the water modifiable or water-degradable film should have greater than about 55 weight percent of a polyolefin. When dry, the film should have the mechanical properties necessary for functionality. When wet, the film should lose at least a portion of its mechanical properties which would render the film flushable and transportable in a sewer system. Such films could be used for making flushable barrier films for personal care products.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a polyolefin-containing film that is water modifiable or water-degradable which contains higher levels of polyolefin content. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a polyolefin-containing film having greater than about 55 weight percent of a polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of poly(ethylene oxide) that is water-modifiable or water degradable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its principal embodiment, the present invention provides a water degradable polyolefin-containing film comprising greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). The film of the invention has a loss of at least 10% in two or more tensile properties selected from percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides a flushable personal care article having a backing or barrier layer of a film comprising greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). The film has a loss of at least 10% in two or more tensile properties selected from percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein "water modifiable" or "water-degradable" means that a four mil thick film (one mil equals 0.001 of an inch or 0.025 mm), when immersed in water for 30 seconds, will have modified by greater than 10% two or more of the following tensile properties: percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus.

To determine the degree of water modification or water degradation, the "wet" values following immersion in water are compared to the pre-immersed or "dry" film values.

The term "personal care product" or "personal care article" means articles such as infant diapers, sanitary napkins, adult incontinence garments, and the like.

By the term "backing layer" or "barrier layer" is meant that component of an infant diaper, sanitary napkin, adult incontinence garment or the like which is worn during normal use furthest from the user's body and which serves to minimize or prevent the exudation of the absorbed liquid.

Although the present invention is described with reference to a water modifiable film and, in particular, to personal care articles having a backing layer, liner, or barrier layer comprising such films, one skilled in the art will understand that the composition of the invention can be used to make other thermoplastic articles that can be extruded or injection molded in which the desired property of water degradability is needed, such as packaging materials and the like.

The water modifiable or water-degradable film comprises greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). Desirably, the water-modifiable film comprises from about 55 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 45 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). More desirably, the water modifiable film comprises from about 65 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 35 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). The polyolefins useful in the practice of this invention include homopolymers or copolymers of ethylene or propylene and are essentially linear in structure. As used herein, the term "saturated" refers to polymers which are fully saturated, but also includes polymers containing up to about 5% unsaturation. The homopolymers of ethylene include those prepared under either low pressure, i.e., linear low density or high density polyethylene, or high pressure, i.e., branched or low density polyethylene. The high density polyethylenes are generally characterized by a density that is about equal to or greater than 0.94 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc). Generally, the high density polyethylenes useful as the base resin in the present invention have a density ranging from about 0.94 g/cc to about 0.97 g/cc. The polyethylenes can have a melt index, as measured at 2.16 kg and 1900 C, ranging from about 0.005 decigrams per minute (dg/min) to 100 dg/min. Desirably, the polyethylene has a melt index of 0.01 dg/min to about 50 dg/min and more desirably of 0.05 dg/min to about 25 dg/min.

Alternatively, mixtures of polyethylene can be used as the base resin in producing the graft copolymer compositions, and such mixtures can have a melt index greater than 0.005 dg/min to less than about 100 dg/min.

The low density polyethylene has a density of less than 0.94 g/cc and are usually in the range of 0.91 g/cc to about 0.93 g/cc. The low density polyethylene has a melt index ranging from about 0.05 dg/min to about 100 dg/min and desirably from 0.05 dg/min to about 20 dg/min. Ultra low density polyethylene can be used in accordance with the present invention. Generally, ultra low density polyethylene has a density of less than 0.90 g/cc.

Generally, polypropylene has a semi-crystalline structure having a molecular weight of about 40,000 or more, a density of about 0.90 g/cc, a melting point of 168 to 171° C. for isotactic polypropylene and a tensile strength of 5000 psi. Polypropylene can also have other tacticities including syndiotactic and atactic.

The above polyolefins can also be manufactured by using the well known multiple-site Ziegler-Natta catalysts or the more recent single-site metallocene catalysts. The metallocene catalyzed polyolefins have better controlled polymer microstructures than polyolefins manufactured using Ziegler-Natta catalysts, including narrower molecular weight distribution, well controlled chemical composition distribution, co-monomer sequence length distribution, and stereoregularity. Metallocene catalysts are known to polymerize propylene into atactic, isotactic, syndiotactic, isotactic-atactic stereoblock copolymer.

Copolymers of ethylene which can be useful in the present invention may include copolymers of ethylene with one or more additional polymerizable, unsaturated monomers. Examples of such copolymers include, but are not limited to, copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins (such as propylene, butene, hexene or octene) including linear low density polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl esters of linear or branched carboxylic acids having 1-24 carbon atoms such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and copolymers of ethylene and acrylic or methacrylic esters of linear, branched or cyclic alkanols having 1-28 carbon atoms. Examples of these latter copolymers include ethylene-alkyl (meth)acrylate 5 copolymers, such as ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers.

Poly(ethylene oxide) polymers suitable for making the films of this invention are available from Union Carbide Corporation, Danbury, Conn. under the trade name of POLYOX®. Typically, poly(ethylene oxide) is a dry free flowing white powder having a crystalline melting point in the order of about 65° C., above which poly(ethylene oxide) resin becomes thermoplastic and can be formed by molding, extrusion and other methods known in the art.

In the principal embodiment of the invention a water modifiable film comprises greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of modified poly(ethylene oxide). Preferably the water modifiable film comprises from about 55 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 45 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of modified poly(ethylene oxide). More desirably, the water modifiable film comprises from about 65 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 35 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of modified poly(ethylene oxide). Poly(ethylene oxide) polymers suitable for this embodiment of the present invention can have a molecular weight ranging from 100,000 to 8,000,000. The polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) are modified by grafting thereto a total of from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, based on the weight of the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide), of a monomer. Preferably, and therefore not necessarily, the monomer is 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ether methacrylate. Desirably, the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) have a total of from about 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of the monomer grafted thereto. More desirably, the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) have a total of from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the monomer grafted thereto. The water modifiable film of the present invention can be made as described in co-pending U.S. patent application having U.S. Ser. No. 08/777,226 filed on Dec. 31, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,872 and entitled "Blends of Polyolefin and Poly(ethylene oxide) and Process for Making the Blends", the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Generally, the film is made by melt blending the desired weight ratios of a mixture of the polyolefin, poly(ethylene oxide), the monomer and the free radical initiator in an extruder and at a reaction temperature where the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) are converted to a molten state. Preferably, the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) are added at the beginning of the extruder. After melting, the monomer is added to the melt blend. Further down the extruder barrel, the free radical initiator is fed to the melt blend.

The free radical initiators which can be used to graft the monomer onto the polyolefin include acyl peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide; dialkyl; diaryl; or aralkyl peroxides such as di-t-butyl peroxide; dicumyl peroxide; cumyl butyl peroxide; 1,1-di-t-butyl peroxy-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexane; 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy) hexane; 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3 and bis-(p-t-butyl peroxyisopropylbenzene); peroxyesters such as t-butyl peroxypivalate; t-butyl peroctoate; t-butyl perbenzoate; 2,5-dimethylhexyl-2,5-di(perbenzoate); t-butyl di-(per phthalate); dialkyl peroxymonocarbonates and peroxydicarbonates; hydroperoxides such as t-butyl hydroperoxide, p-methane hydroperoxide, pinane hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide and ketone peroxides such as cyclohexanone peroxide and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. Azo compounds such as azo-bis-isobutyronitrile may also be used.

When modifying the polyolefin together with the poly(ethylene oxide), the amount of free radical initiator added to the extruder should be an amount sufficient to graft from about 1 percent to 100 percent of the monomer onto the polymer, i.e., the polyolefin or polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide). This can range from about 0.1 weight percent to about 2 weight percent of initiator. Preferably, the amount of initiator added to the extruder ranges from about 0.1 weight percent to about 1 weight percent wherein all such ranges are based on the amount of monomer added to the melt blend.

The water-modifiable polyolefin films of the present invention will, when immersed in water for about 30 seconds, have modified at least two of the tensile properties: percent stain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus by greater than 10%. Desirably, at least two of the tensile properties will be reduced greater than about 25%.

More desirably, at least two of the tensile properties will be reduced from about 25% to about 98%, and even more desirably at least two of the tensile properties: percent stain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus will be reduced from about 30% to about 80%. The values in determining the extent of the tensile property or properties modification are relative to the dry condition, i.e. pre-immersion value for that measured property.

The present invention is illustrated in greater detail by the specific examples presented below. It is to be understood that these examples are illustrative embodiments and are not intended to be limiting of the invention, but rather are to be construed broadly within the scope and content of the appended claims.

Comparative Example A

A 60/40 weight percent blend of low density polyethylene (PE) having a melt index of 1.9 decigrams per minute (dg/min) and a density of 0.922 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) (Dow 503I; available from Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) having a molecular weight of 200,000 g/mol (POLYOX® WSRN-80 available from Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, Conn.) was fed to a Haake counter-rotating twin screw extruder at a rate of 5 lb/hr (2.27 kg/hr). The extruder had a length of 300 millimeters. Each conical screw had 30 millimeters diameter at the feed port and a diameter of 20 millimeters at the die. The extruder had four heating zones set at 170° C., 180° C., 180° C. and 190° C. The screw speed of the extruder was 150 rpm.

Film processing of all the blends was performed using a Haake extruder counter-rotating twin screw extruder as described above with the following modifications. The extruder included a 4 inch (101.6 mm) slit die at a temperature of 195° C. The screw speed was at 30 rpm. A chilled wind-up roll was used to collect the film. The chilled roll was operated at a speed sufficient to form a film having a thickness of about 4 mils (about 0.102 mm) and was maintained at a temperature of 15-20° C. Dry tensile tests were performed on a Sintech 1/D tensile tester available from MTS Systems Corp., Machesny Park, Ill. The film was cut into a type V dogbone shape in accordance with ASTM D638. The test was performed with a grip separation of 30 millimeters and a crosshead speed of 4 millimeters/second.

Wet tensile tests were performed on a Vitrodyne V1000 mini-tensile tester available from Chatillon, Greensboro, N.C. The film samples were placed in the grips and the testing apparatus was submerged in ambient temperature, non-stirred water for 30 seconds. The test was then run under the same conditions as the dry tensile test. Peak stress, percent strain-to-break, energy-to-break (as area under stress versus strain curve) and modulus were calculated using the actual stress versus strain values recorded from the tensile tester for each dry or wet tensile test. The peak stress was recorded as the greatest stress value. The percent stain-to-break was recorded as the percent strain value at break. The energy-to-break (area under stress versus stain curve) was calculated by the summation of rectangular "slices" under the curve determined for each strain value recorded from the tensile test, using the following formula:

    ((Strain value.sub.x -Strain value.sub.x-1)×(Stress value.sub.x +Stress value.sub.x-1))/2

where `X" is the sequential number of the slice. The modulus was calculated by linear regression of the initial region of the stress versus strain curve. The dry and wet properties of the film produced from the blend in Comparative Example A are indicated in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparative Example A                                                                                        Percent Loss from                                Property     Dry       Wet    Dry to Wet                                       ______________________________________                                         Thickness (mil)                                                                             4.1       4.2                                                     Percent Strain                                                                              550       500    9                                                Peak Stress (MPa)                                                                           16.6      16.2   2                                                Energy-to-Break (                                                                           65.7      64.0   3                                                ×10.sup.6 J/m.sup.3                                                      Modulus      77.0      62.3   19                                               ______________________________________                                    

This example shows that a polymer blend of unmodified low density polyethylene with unmodified poly(ethylene oxide) having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 g/mol is water resistant. The polymer blend was not water modifiable after 30 seconds of immersion in water.

EXAMPLES 1-4

A 60/40 weight percent resin blend of low density polyethylene (Dow 503I) and poly(ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 200,000 g/mol (Union Carbide POLYOX® WSRN-80) was fed to a Haake extruder as described in Comparative Example A at a rate of 5 lb/hr (2.27 kg/hr). Contemporaneously with the polymer feed to the extruder, specified amounts of the monomer, PEG-MA, and free radical initiator (Lupersol® 101) were added at the feed throat. The extruder had four heating zones set at 170° C., 180° C., 180° C. and 190° C. The screw speed of the extruder was 150 rpm.

For Example 1 the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.125 lb/hr 0.057 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.0125 lb/hr (0.0057 kg/hr).

For Example 2 the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.25 lb/hr (0.113 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr 0.011 kg/hr).

For Example 3 PEG-MA feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr (0.227 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr 0.011 kg/hr).

For Example 4 the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.75 lb/hr 0.34 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.0375 lb/hr (0.017 kg/hr).

The dry and wet properties of the film produced from the blends in Examples 1-4 are indicated in Table 2 below.

For Examples 1-4 the amount of monomer grafted to polyethylene was 0.65 weight percent, 1.03 weight percent, 0.51 weight percent and 1.13 weight percent, respectively. The weight percent of monomer grafted to the polyethylene was determined by FT-IR and elemental oxygen content analysis as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/733,410 filed Oct. 18, 1996. For Example 3 the amount of monomer grafted to the poly(ethylene oxide) was determined to be 9.66 weight percent by proton NMR spectroscopy.

In accordance with the invention, Examples 1-4 the water-modifiable or water-degradable films were polymer blends of 60 weight percent of a modified polyethylene and 40 weight percent a modified poly(ethylene oxide) where both the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) had PEG-MA grafted thereto. The films of these polymer blends were water-modifiable after 30 seconds of submersion in water. A dramatic loss in tensile properties was observed for the films from dry to wet.

EXAMPLES 5-8

For Examples 5-8, a low density polyethylene, Dow 503I, and poly(ethylene oxide) (WSRN-80) blends were prepared following the procedure of Example 1 having the respective resin weight ratios, PEG-MA feed rates and initiator rates indicated.

For Example 5 the blend was 65/35 PE/PEO, the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr.

For Example 6 the blend was 70/30 PE/PEO, the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr.

For Example 7 the blend was 75/25 PE/PEO, the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr.

For Example 8 the blend was 80/20 PE/PEO, the PEG-MA feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr.

The dry and wet properties of the film produced from the blends in 5-8 are indicated in Table 3 below.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Percent Change In Tensile Properties                                           Example  1          2          3          4                                    Property Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                       __________________________________________________________________________     Thickness (mil)                                                                         4.4                                                                               4.4     5.6                                                                               5.5     4.2                                                                               4.2     4.9                                                                               4.6                               % Strain 667                                                                               117                                                                               83   467                                                                               83 82   983                                                                               150                                                                               85   417                                                                               83 80                             Peak Stress (MPa)                                                                       9.3                                                                               3.7                                                                               60   8.3                                                                               3.1                                                                               63   9.2                                                                               3.5                                                                               62   5.2                                                                               1.3                                                                               75                             Energy-to-Break                                                                         51.0                                                                              2.8                                                                               94   30.2                                                                              1.5                                                                               95   78.0                                                                              3.3                                                                               96   16.3                                                                              0.5                                                                               97                             (×10.sup.6 J/m.sup.3)                                                    Modulus (MPa)                                                                           54.1                                                                              25.1                                                                              53   54.7                                                                              19.6                                                                              64   51.7                                                                              22.8                                                                              56   38.6                                                                              8.7                                                                               77                             __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Percent Change In Tensile Properties                                           Example  5          6          7          8                                    Property Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                       __________________________________________________________________________     Thickness (mil)                                                                         5.0                                                                               4.8     5.0                                                                               5.1     4.6                                                                               4.4     4.4                                                                               5.2                               % Strain 567                                                                               133                                                                               76   500                                                                               217                                                                               57   433                                                                               367                                                                               15   300                                                                               250                                                                               17                             Peak Stress (MPa)                                                                       7.5                                                                               3.6                                                                               52   10.3                                                                              5.8                                                                               44   11.3                                                                              10.5                                                                              7    11.4                                                                              11.4                                                                              0                              Energy-to-Break                                                                         35.2                                                                              2.7                                                                               92   39.0                                                                              10.3                                                                              74   38.0                                                                              27.0                                                                              29   2B.0                                                                              24.5                                                                              13                             (×10.sup.6 J/m.sup.3)                                                    Modulus (MPa)                                                                           54.7                                                                              24.6                                                                              55   54.5                                                                              33.4                                                                              39   71.9                                                                              43.5                                                                              40   B3.0                                                                              48.4                                                                              42                             __________________________________________________________________________

In accordance with the invention, Examples 5-8 were films from polymer blends having greater than about 60 weight percent of a modified polyethylene and less than about 40 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide) where both the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) had PEG-MA grafted thereto. The films of these polymer blends were water modifiable after 30 seconds of immersion in water. A loss in tensile properties was observed for the films from dry to wet.

EXAMPLES 9-12

For Examples 9-12, a 60/40 weight percent resin blend of low density polyethylene (Dow 503I) and poly(ethylene oxide) (Union Carbide WSRN-80) was prepared following the procedure of Example 1, except the monomer used was 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The respective monomer feed rates and initiator rates are indicated.

For Example 9 the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate feed rate was 0.125 lb/hr (0.057 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.0125 lb/hr (0.0057 kg/hr).

For Example 10 the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate feed rate was 0.25 lb/hr (0.114 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr (0.114 kg/hr).

For Example 11 the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate feed rate was 0.5 lb/hr (0.227 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.025 lb/hr (0.0114 kg/hr).

For Example 12 the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate feed rate was 0.75 lb/hr (0.34 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.0375 lb/hr 0.018 kg/hr).

The dry and wet properties of the film produced from the blends in 9-12 are indicated in Table 4 below. In accordance with this invention, Examples 9-12 were films of polymer blends having 60 weight percent of a modified polyethylene and 40 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide) where both the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) had 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate grafted thereto. The films of these polymer blends were water-modifiable or water-degradable after 30 seconds of immersion in water.

For Examples 13-14, a 60/40 weight percent resin blend of low density polyethylene (Dow 503I) and poly(ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 200,000 g/mol (Union Carbide Polyox® WSN-80) was fed to a ZSK-30 extruder as described in Examples 16 at a rate of 34 lb/hr. The seven heating zones were all set at 180° C. The screw speed was 300 rpm. At barrel 4, the monomer (PEG-MA) was added at the specified rate. At barrel 5, the free radical initiator (Lupersol® 101) was added at the specified rate.

For Example 13, the PEG-MA feed rate was 1.02 lb/hr (0.464 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.068 lb/hr 0.031 kg/hr).

For Example 14, the PEG-MA feed rate was 3.06 lb/hr (1.39 kg/hr) and the initiator rate was 0.17 lb/hr (0.077 kg/hr).

The dry and wet properties of the film produced from the blends in Examples 17-18 are indicated in Table 5 below.

In accordance with the invention, Examples 13-14 were films of polymer blends with 60 weight percent of a modified polyethylene and 40 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide) where both polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) have PEG-MA grafted thereto, The films of these polymer blends was water modifiable after 30 seconds of submersion in water.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Percent Change In Tensile Properties                                           Example  9          10         11         12                                   Property Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                                                                            Dry                                                                               Wet                                                                               % Change                       __________________________________________________________________________     Thickness (mil)                                                                         4.5                                                                               4.6     4.2                                                                               4.7     4.5                                                                               4.5     5.0                                                                               4.6                               % Strain 583                                                                               83 86   650                                                                               67 90   700                                                                               67 90   583                                                                               50 91                             Peak Stress (MPa)                                                                       13.3                                                                              3.3                                                                               75   9.0                                                                               1.5                                                                               83   10.3                                                                              2.4                                                                               77   8.7                                                                               1.9                                                                               78                             Energy-to-Break                                                                         55.5                                                                              1.5                                                                               97   44.5                                                                              0.6                                                                               99   54.5                                                                              0.8                                                                               98   39.3                                                                              0.7                                                                               98                             (×10.sup.6 J/m.sup.3)                                                    Modulus (MPa)                                                                           64.2                                                                              23.3                                                                              64   75.6                                                                              11.0                                                                              85   59.8                                                                              17.2                                                                              71   65.4                                                                              13.9                                                                              79                             __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Percent Change In Tensile Properties                                           Example    13             14                                                   Property   Dry    Wet    % Change                                                                              Dry  Wet  % Change                             ______________________________________                                         Thickness (mil)                                                                           3.0    4.1           4.2  4.8                                       % Strain   700    100    86     517  100  81                                   Peak Stress (MPa)                                                                         9.4    1.0    89     9.1  1.0  89                                   Energy-to-Break                                                                           56.5   0.7    99     40.8 0.7  98                                   (×10.sup.6 J/m.sup.3)                                                    Modulus (MPa)                                                                             51.1   11.2   78     51.9 15.5 70                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 13-14

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and illustrated with regard to a range of optional features, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various substitutions, omissions, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as it is defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing description be deemed merely exemplary of the preferred scope of the present invention and not be deemed a limitation thereof. 

We claim:
 1. A water degradable film comprising greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide) wherein said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide) are modified by grafting thereto a monomer operative to effect in said film a loss of at least 10% in two or more tensile properties selected from percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 2. A film according to claim 1 comprising from about 55 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 45 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide).
 3. A film according to claim 2 comprising from about 65 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and from about 35 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide).
 4. A film according to claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene or propylene.
 5. A film according to claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene or propylene.
 6. A film according to claim 3 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene or propylene.
 7. A film according to claim 1 wherein said modified polyolefin and said modified poly(ethylene oxide) have a total of from about 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of said monomer grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide).
 8. A film according to claim 1 wherein said modified polyolefin and said modified poly(ethylene oxide) have a total of from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of said monomer grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide).
 9. A film according to claim 1 wherein said monomer is 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate.
 10. A film according to claim 7 wherein said monomer is 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate.
 11. A film according to claim 8 wherein said monomer is 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate.
 12. A film according to claim 1 wherein said loss in two or more of the tensile properties is greater than 25% after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 13. A film according to claim 1 wherein said loss in two or more of the tensile properties is from about 25% to about 98% after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 14. The film of claim 1 wherein said loss in two or more of the tensile properties is from about 30% to about 80% after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 15. A water degradable film comprising a blend ofa) at least 55 weight percent of a polyolefin selected from polyethylene and polypropylene modified by having [grafter] grafted thereto from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate; and b) 45 weight percent or less of poly(ethylene oxide) modified by having grafted thereto from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate;said water degradable film showing a loss of at least 1 0 percent in two or more tensile properties selected from percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 16. A water degradable film comprising greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide), said modified polyolefin and said modified poly(ethylene oxide) comprising from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a monomer grafted onto said polyolefin and said poly(ethylene oxide), based on the total weight of the polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) in said film, said monomer being selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate, and said film having a loss of at least 10 percent in two or more tensile properties selected from percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break, and modulus after being immersed in water for 30 seconds.
 17. A film according to claim 16 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene or propylene.
 18. The film of claim 16 wherein said loss in two or more of the tensile properties is from about 30% to about 80% after being immersed in water for 30 seconds. 